News

Dave MacLellan, Author at Micrometric

On Thursday 23 March, Neil Main (MD at Micrometric), will make a presentation at the Association of Industrial Lasers (AILU) Symposium at Belton Woods Hotel, Grantham, on the laser welding of 316 stainless steel.

One of the most commonly welded Austenitic stainless steels is 316 grade (1.4401) and the low carbon grade 316L, which are routinely used in food machinery and surgical steel applications owing to the excellent corrosion resistance this material exhibits.

Historically, 316 stainless steel has been laser welded with excellent results and no cracking. Recent changes in the method of manufacture of 316 stainless steel destined for bar products have, while still keeping within the chemical composition limits of the 316 spec, made the machinability of 316 much better but worsened the weldability. The influence of the producer, chemistry and destined product form will be discussed and contrasted with plate product of the same material specification.

The Industrial Laser Applications Symposium (ILAS) takes place from 22-23 March at Belton Woods Hotel and covers a whole range of laser applications presentations from end-users. Held every 2 years, this is the 5th Symposium organised by the Association of Industrial Laser Users. From 2013-2015 Neil Main was President of AILU.

Physics students from the University of Lincoln recently visited the Micrometric headquarters to show how physics is put into practice in the wider world. Micrometric, based in Lincoln and with strong links to the local universities and colleges largely focuses on engineering, producing precision engineered components for companies requiring prototypes, or production runs of new designs. The University of Lincoln opened the School of Mathematics and Physics in 2014 to encourage students to build relationships with the industrial and commercial world allowing students to gain industrial experience as well as building contacts with potential employers.

Managing Director Neil Main, joined Micrometric Ltd in 1982, with a background in physics, he shares his experiences and knowledge first hand with aspiring engineers wanting to take a career path into engineering. Being on the External Advisory Board for the University as well he said: “We get involved in undergraduate and postgraduate projects where we offer advice, suggest projects or offer resources for students to use.” Neil guest lectures at the University in his spare time, as well as taking the role as the governor of Lincoln University College, a science and technology secondary school. Whilst Universities are pushed to ensure their students are in employment within the first year of graduating, it is tough competition for young people to find work. Micrometric is one of many companies that offer work experience to aid projects etc. which in turn could lead to a career in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and many more.

He added that “more companies local or big should be encouraged to help and interact with others outside the business as much as possible.” They do this by being part of Association of Industrial Laser Users (AILU) “we know, through AILU, many people at most Universities doing things with lasers. Sometimes we help them or they help us.” Micrometric will be exhibiting at SPARK Engineering Festival on the 5-7th May 2017, Lincoln Cathedral. This event is aimed for everyone ranging from old, young to families who want learn Lincoln’s engineering heritage.

Micrometric will be exhibiting at Northern Manufacturing 2015 which takes place at Event City, Manchester from 30 September to 1 October 2015. You can find Micrometric on stand F52 and staff will be available to discuss your requirements for subcontract laser processing (cutting, welding, marking and drilling).

If you need some expert advice on production of intricate metallic parts, we would be only too happy to talk to you and show you samples of what we have already achieved – which might well be similar to what you are looking for.

Micrometric was very honoured by a visit from 93 year old Bomber Command veteran Frank Tolley, when he called in recently with a team from the BBC to film for a forthcoming documentary “The People Remember” which will be broadcast on BBC 1 this Remembrance Day – 11 November 2015.

Frank was a bomb aimer on a Lancaster Bomber with squadron 625 during WWII, and remains remarkably active and fit for a man in his 90’s. During the war the squadron was based at RAF Kelstern in Lincolnshire, and they took part in many bombing missions as well as dropping food parcels over Holland.

BBC journalist Debbie Williams interviewed Frank Tolley and Micrometric Internal Sales Engineer Andrew Parker about the part Micrometric is playing in commemorating our fallen heroes, who flew from airfields in Lincolnshire during the Second World War. Frank was thrilled to see the names of some of the 26,000 airmen that lost their lives while serving under Bomber Command being laser cut into sheet metal. The finished plates will be mounted on the surrounding walls of the Spire Memorial at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) located on Canwick Hill outside Lincoln. Recognising names of friends and potential relatives brought a tear to Frank’s eye as he remembered some of the individuals commemorated.

Image – Frank observes the laser cutting of names of the fallen heroes at Micrometric

After leaving the RAF, Frank moved into engineering and described his visit to Micrometric “like coming home”, being fascinated by the range of high technology laser equipment in use at Micrometric.

Image: Frank Tolley with Andrew Parker of Micrometric

It was an honour for the staff at Micrometric to meet Frank and we hope he enjoyed his visit.

Amongst other world records and Olympic gold medals, UK cycle champion Sir Bradley Wiggins recently broke the Hour Record, going further in one hour than anyone else previously achieved. Cycling 54,526 metres in 60 minutes, Sir Bradley took the record from British cyclist Alex Dowsett by almost a mile at Lee Valley Velodrome in London on 7 June 2015.

To commemorate this occasion Lincoln businessman Gavin Sykes commissioned Micrometric to laser etch the number 54526 onto a pair of customised Bang & Olufsen (B & O) Beoplay H6 headphones. The headphones were customised by Rapha cycle clothing supplier and sponsor of Team Sky, and are designed to be worn by cyclists when travelling or in their warm up and recovery periods, during which many world class cyclists are accustomed to listening to music for motivation or distraction from pain.

The body of the headphones is made from lightweight colour-anodised aluminium which is a perfect application for laser engraving or etching since very fine detail can be produced and contrast is excellent. Removing the anodised material reveals the bright white aluminium surface and this technique is used in many industrial and commercial products where the laser marking is permanent, fast and easily automated.

Gavin Sykes presented the headphones to Sir Bradley Wiggins during the British National Road Cycling Championships which were held in Lincoln at the end of June 2015. Gavin had previously used Micrometric for laser etching so was aware of the capabilities available at Micrometric.

Sir Bradley was delighted with the headphones and is a big fan of B & O products, after receiving the gift, he invited Gavin to a 2 hour ride north of Lincoln culminating in an assent of the cobbled Michaelgate.

The geography of Lincolnshire, sometimes known as Bomber County, has made it an ideal location for military airfields, and during WW2 it was the epicentre of Bomber Command with numerous airfields being sited in Lincolnshire. Micrometric, based in Lincoln, is extremely proud to have been chosen to provide precision laser cutting for the Spire Memorial which will be sited on Canwick Hill on the outskirts of Lincoln to commemorate the fallen aircrew who fought and died from the airfields around Lincoln.

Surrounding the Spire Memorial will be 120 plates on the curved memorial walls, which are to carry the names of the 25,611 men who flew and died from airfields around Lincoln. In total there were 55,573 lives lost from Bomber Command, with 28% of them coming from countries outside the UK. The plates are to be made from “CorTen A”, a type of steel designed to weather over time and provide a rusted appearance. Each plate is 4 mm thick and will take around 6 hours of laser cutting time on the machines at Micrometric. Laser cutting is a precise method of cutting through metals and other materials with low heat input and a fine cutting line, using a machine capable of handling large sheet sizes and cutting through over 12 mm thickness of material.

In total there will be more than 250,000 letters cut out by laser – the plates are produced in flat material for laser cutting, they are then sent to another local company, Hindles of Lincoln, for deburring and bending to the correct curvature to allow them to be mounted onto the walls.

The Spire Memorial, which has the same height as the wingspan of the Avro Lancaster bomber (102 feet or 31.09 m), is part of the overall International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) which is due to open in 2016 at Canwick Hill. Created in 1936, the RAF Bomber Command served the country until 1968. More than 125,000 served from all over the British Commonwealth. The centre on Canwick Hill will be known as the Chadwick Centre, named after Roy Chadwick, the designer of the famous Lancaster aircraft. On 2 October 2015, the Spire Memorial will be officially unveiled.

Image 2 – The laser cutting machine in action

Micrometric, being a local manufacturer with expertise in precision cutting and welding of metals, is very proud to have been chosen to play an important part in this project to honour the heroes that fought and lost their lives to preserve our freedom. Contact Micrometric for any subcontract laser processing requirements via our contact page.

On 2 July 2015, four members of staff from Micrometric will take part in 100 mile cycle ride from Lincoln Castle to the coast at Chapel St Leonards and back. The C2C2C event (Castle to Coast to Castle) follows a route eastwards to the Lincolnshire coast and back again. Cycling is very popular in Lincolnshire, and although the county is generally quite flat, the route includes some hilly stretches which will challenge the stamina of the riders.

In 2013, Engineer Joe Ashworth from Micrometric took part individually in the C2C2C event and was first over the finish line. This year is the first time that Micrometric has entered a company team. Joe Ashworth is again competing for Micrometric and is joined by three other staff: Company Secretary Rosie de Smit, Operations Manager Chris Waters and Works Engineering Manager Nigel Thomas.

L-R Chris Waters, Joe Ashworth, Rosie de Smit, Nigel Thomas

The event is taking part to raise money for three excellent local charities: Sophie’s story, St Barnabas Hospice and the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. In addition, the C2C2C event is aimed at encouraging employees of local companies to get away from their desks and take to the countryside, which also improves health and fitness.

As well as the entrance fee which goes to the charities, Micrometric Ltd. is asking for donations to boost the amount raised for the nominated causes. If you would like to make a donation which will be split between the above charities, you can do so here:

If you are in Lincoln during 17-19 April, come along to meet Micrometric at the Spark Engineering Festival 2015 in Lincoln Cathedral. More information can be found on the Visit Lincoln site.

Staff from Micrometric will be on-hand to talk to visitors about how we apply engineering technology to laser cut, weld, drill and engrave components in metal at our Lincoln factory.

You will be able to see a laser engraving (sometimes known as laser etching or laser marking) system running live – so easy to use you will be able to take part in laser marking your name and take away a sample!

As well as laser engraving we will be demonstrating how we use 3D printing of plastics to make useful pieces for our factory and customers.

Micrometric is pleased to welcome 2 new employees to the team, Edwin Cattle and Pernille Egeberg.

Edwin Cattle has joined the engineering team at Micrometric in order to enable improvements in process efficiency through automation and tooling. Edwin is a Chemical Engineer and worked for James Dawson UK as an engineering projects manager for 30 years.

Pernille Egeberg joins the admin Team at Micrometric. Pernille previously worked at Lincoln Hospital.

We wish Edwin and Pernille all the best in their important roles at Micrometric, and hope that you will join us in welcoming them to our Lincoln office.

Micrometric will again be exhibiting at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show this week, February 10-12 2015 at the FIVE venue in Farnborough, stand W73. If you are attending the show, come along and meet the team from Micrometric to discuss your potential requirements for subcontract precision manufacturing – laser cutting of challenging metallic components, laser welding of all metals, laser drilling or marking.

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Micrometric provide a sub contract laser manufacturing service to a wide range of business sectors, supplying anything from watch to tractor parts, from prototype to volume production. This activity is supported by a conventional CNC machining, wire EDM, small press and scanning capabilty.